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Plaid Cymru’s leader Rhun ap Iorwerth would appoint a minister for public health if he becomes first minister following the next Senedd election.<\/p>\n
The move would be part of Plaid’s approach to supporting the NHS by investing in preventative health measures, according to the party.<\/p>\n
The announcement comes ahead of Plaid Cymru’s autumn conference which begins in Cardiff on Friday.<\/p>\n
Plaid secured its best ever result at a UK general election in July as it won four Westminster seats.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
During his speech at the Principality Stadium later on Friday, ap Iorwerth will tell party members that a Plaid Cymru government in Wales would “break the cycle of short-term thinking which short-changes Wales”.<\/p>\n
“For too long, Labour’s priority has been managing people’s pain, but I want to keep people healthy and I can announce that in the first 100 days of a Plaid Cymru government we will bring forward a new budget – based on the principles of a healthier, wealthier Wales – with a promise that spending on preventative health measures will increase every year.<\/p>\n
“No more sticking plaster, no more blaming the individual, no more passing the buck.”<\/p>\n
The appointment of a minister for public health would also ensure “a truly national mission of creating healthier lives which in turn delivers substantial savings”, ap Iorwerth will say.<\/p>\n
Ap Iorwerth will also commit to “clearing the emergency maintenance backlogs” at Welsh hospitals before 2030.<\/p>\n
Earlier this week a critical incident<\/a> was declared at the Princess of Wales hospital in Bridgend after long-term damage was found to its roof.<\/p>\n “We have to have an NHS estate fit for purpose,” ap Iorwerth will say.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Plaid has never won a Senedd election since devolution began in 1999, with Labour having led the Welsh government for 25 years.<\/p>\n However, the party has worked with Labour in government as a coalition partner and, more recently, as part of a cooperation agreement.<\/p>\n Rhun ap Iorwerth brought that deal – which had been due to last until December – to an abrupt end in May<\/a>.<\/p>\n Without a majority of the seats in the Senedd, Labour will have to strike a deal with one of the opposition parties again when it needs to pass its budget for next year.<\/p>\n Speaking ahead of Plaid’s conference, ap Iorwerth told journalists his party was not “seeking a budget deal”.<\/p>\n “The ball is very much in Labour’s court,” he added.<\/p>\n Plaid is now setting its sights on 2026, when the party will hope to benefit from changes to the voting system<\/a> at the Senedd election.<\/p>\n The number of seats in Cardiff Bay will also increase from 60 to 96.<\/p>\n